Description

French rectangular brass, travel sundial with compass. C. 1720. Signed: <em>Jacques Le Maire AParis au Genie</em>. At the rear, various latitudes engraved for different cities in Europe. The adjustable gnomon, shaped as a dolphin, points with its tail to the latitude scale. Dimensions 8 x 6 x 1,5 cm. Jacques le Maire, the father of <em>Pierre Le Maire 2, </em>was a maker of repute who made many sundials of various types including one invented by <em>Julien Le Roy</em>. He was recorded to work between c. 1720 and 1740.  Some of his sundials are signed <em>fait par Jacques Le Maire et inventé par Julien Le Roy de la Société des Arts au Génie, Paris</em>. He developed a variant of the Newtonian telescope in 1728, he also made a variant of the Hadley quadrant. Examples of its work can be seen in many museums including the: <em>Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers</em>, Paris / <em>Time Museum</em>, Rockford, Illinois / <em>British Museum</em>, London /<em>Museum of the History of Science</em>, Oxford, England / <em>National Maritime Museum</em>, Greenwich, London.
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